The Mirror & the Light

Hilary Mantel passed away last Thursday on September 22. The British author was best known for her historical fiction trilogy portraying Thomas Cromwell's powerful role in the reign of Henry VIII. The two-time Booker Prize winner was widely considered to be one of Britain's finest writers.

Hardback books can be, well, hard on the back when lugging them from place to place. So, for your summer reading lists, we decided to focus on the best new releases in paperback to throw into your beach bags or carry-ons. And—lucky us!—there sure are a lot of great options!

A new year means new books! Here are nine of the most highly anticipated titles in the first few months of 2020, plus related recommendations you can read now.